8. June 20th

8

June 20th

I make it all the way across the yard and through the front door before I finally find a familiar face.

"Carrie!" I yell her name through the crowd of partygoers. She is standing in the kitchen with a cup in her hand surrounded by half the football team. Among them are William and Maxwell, deep in conversation.

It takes some maneuvering, but I am able to finally make it to her side, albeit I am a sweating and trembling mess. This isn't an environment I am comfortable in, and it takes everything in me to not cover my ears at the drunken chaos in my vicinity.

"There you are!" When I am close enough, Carrie pulls me into a hug. She is unfortunately even more drunk than before, and her sudden movement has me scrambling to keep my balance.

"Easy now, don't hurt her." A set of hands on my shoulders pulls me back from Carrie. They lean me against the counter before their weight drops.

"Rayden," I acknowledge him gratefully. He's Maxwell's older brother, another Thorne, but unlike Maxwell, I don't mind his company. He was on the football team with my brother until he graduated two years ago. Instead of heading to college and never returning, like most everyone does, Rayden stayed here to work for his parents. I always respected that about him–even as loaded as his family is, he never takes it for granted. And while I guess that makes him technically a nepo baby, I don't judge him too much on it, he's always been nice to me and doesn't seem like a cocky asshole. Exactly the opposite of his brother.

"Well, hello there, Miss Sunday." Rayden flashes a smile, I think he means for it to be comforting, but it is all teeth.

"Sorry about that Sunday, I think I may have had too much. Here." Carrie pushes her full cup of mystery liquid into my hands. I take it without thinking.

"I need to go to the bathroom, watch her for me, will you?" she directs that last part to Rayden.

I try to protest, but she's already stumbling across the room and while I don't especially like Maxwell, I am grateful when he breaks off the conversation he's in and helps guide her away.

I know that drinking something I didn't watch get poured is not the best idea, but at this moment, with my anxiety riding me, I don't care. I gulp down the liquid, ignoring the burn as it settles uneasily in my empty stomach.

"Easy there." Rayden gently pulls the drink back from my mouth.

A single drop escapes my lips and rolls down my chin. Before I can wipe it away, Rayden's sleeve is swiping across my face.

Rayden smiles again, and this time, it isn't as off-putting as it spreads to his soft chocolate eyes before hardening a bit. "How have you been?" Rayden is leaning down into my space now, the question a caress against my ear.

I stiffen at both his proximity and the words. "Can we not do this? Please ?" I whisper the last word out as it cracks. I am here to forget, not be pitied and reminded of how horrible the rest of my life is going to be without my brother. Without Tripp.

Something flashes across Rayden's eyes as he stands back up to his full height, but then he places a new drink in my hand. This time it is an unopened beer. "Fair enough. For what it's worth, I miss him too."

Guilt squirms its way up my throat. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—" I begin to apologize. Of course, I am not the only one hurting.

"Think nothing of it," Rayden laughs caustically. "Drink that instead though, I did promise to always keep an eye on you, and I know you aren't exactly the drinking type."

His thoughtfulness does nothing to appease my inner turmoil. "Thank you," I murmur softly. He's right, whatever I chugged is already working its way through my system, but I find myself enjoying the numbness it brings.

Once more an emotion flickers across Rayden's face that I can't discern, but before I can think too much more into it, William joins our bubble.

"Never thought I would see the day that Sunday the nun would bum it with us at a house party. I thought you were too good for this?" William's voice is mocking, and his icy eyes are a mirror of his tone.

"Knock it off man." Rayden shoulder checks William, but the words have already landed in my gut. They mix with the alcohol, blending uneasily. Nausea bubbles up.

I want to make my escape, but yet another person joins our group. "Sunday," the sweet voice greets me, "is my brother giving you any trouble?" It's Veronica, Auggie's most recent girlfriend and William's older sister.

I meet her kind, soft eyes and find myself noticeably relaxing. "Hi Veronica, it's good to see you, sorry it's been so long."

Understanding and empathy creep across her face. Veronica has always been a kind girl. My brother agreed with this sentiment and that's why they had been dating for the last year in college. I hadn't really spent too much time around her though.

"Are you–" I am not quite sure how to articulate the question "–are you doing okay?" I finally settle on the words, and even to my ears, they sound flat.

Veronica's mask wavers a bit, but then she slides it back into place. "You two? Give us some space." She pushes both the men away and I realize we are now the only ones remaining in the kitchen. In fact, as I look around, judging by the stomping above and the distant DJ music, most of the party has moved outside or upstairs.

Rayden offers up one more reassuring smile before dragging William away with him.

Once the men are a distance from us, Veronica hops on the counter and gestures for me to join her. It takes a few attempts, but eventually I am seated next to her. Our knees are touching and we are facing each other as best we can.

A random thought strikes. "Have you seen Tiffany?" Tiffany was Maxwell's last girlfriend, a cheerleader. She isn't at the party which, from what I heard, isn't the norm. I want to talk to her, see if Carrie is going to be okay with him.

I finally look up and see that Veronica is ashen. "Didn't you hear? She got a full ride scholarship and said she wouldn't be coming back here," she finally says matter-of-factly. The words don't match her expression… at all. Her tone is reassuring, but her gaze is flickering around, eyebrows knitted in concern, lips drawing into a line.

That's odd… but I don't get a chance to push the matter.

"I figured you might need to vent, and maybe I do too if that's okay?" Veronica redirects, her voice softening.

My uneasiness thaws into empathy and I accept the pivot. I know all too well what it is like to lose a first love, and from what I heard, my brother was hers.

"Yes." I had set down the beer in order to get up here, but I find myself grabbing it again. Opening the tab, I take a long sip.

Veronica gives me a sad, wistful look, sighing softly. "You know I was supposed to go with them? The only reason I didn't was because Will made me come home the night before. It's why I couldn't make it to their memorial. It was too much, I am sorry." Veronica reaches out, squeezing my hand.

A chill rolls down my spine and I don't know what to say. She essentially cheated death, what if William hadn't done that?

"Wow." I know the shock is clear across my face, making up for my lack of response. The rest of her words process through. "You don't need to apologize for not being there, I understand. I almost wish I didn't go either." My mind flashes back to the lightning strike and my interaction with the remaining O'Briens.

"Thanks, Sunday. I appreciate your understanding." Veronica drops my hand and looks in the direction of her brother. "But, yeah, I think that might be why Will is being an extra asshole, he knows how close he came to losing me too," Veronica states, shrugging a shoulder. "Not that the circumstance gives him any excuse to talk to you the way he did."

"You heard that?" I grimace. "He's not wrong though, if that hadn't happened, I most likely wouldn't be here."

"Look, I know we never really hung out before, but I have always liked you and your brother thought the world of you." Veronica gives a sad laugh. "It's okay to not want to party, it's not for everyone. But since you are new to this, just be careful, okay?"

"I will."

"Also, if anything gets too tough I want you to call or text me. Is it alright if I do too? I feel like there isn't anyone that I can really talk to about this." Veronica pulls a phone out of her dress pocket. She hands me the device and gestures for me to do the same.

Unlocking it, I hand it to her, she raises a questioning eyebrow.

"Axel's number?" she asks worriedly. "Why do you have his number?"

I choke on the sip of beer I was in the process of swallowing. "What, I don't?"

She turns my phone to me, and sure enough there it is. That sneaky asshole must have added his number when he took it earlier. "Be careful with him. You know what happened, don't you?" Her eyebrows are furrowed together.

For some unknown reason, I am suddenly feeling extremely defensive of Axel. I knew he went to prison, but it was over kicking the ass of one of Maxwell's friends, Mark. I have a hard time believing Mark didn't deserve it. But I don't want to explain all of that when Veronica is just trying to be nice and watch out for me.

"I will," I agree, exchanging our phones back. I am not sure if I will take Veronica's offer, but it warms my heart to know that there is at least someone else I could talk to. Or maybe that is just the buzz of alcohol that is steadily creeping up on me.

Veronica goes to hop off the counter, but stops. She squeezes my shoulder softly. "Please reach out if you need me?"

I smile at her, my first real smile in what feels like a lifetime. "I will."

Her face softens. "Oh, and I wasn't sure if I should ask you, but did you like your graduation gift?"

The question has me stuttering, graduation gift ?

"What? What do you mean?" I ask, confused.

Veronica's eyes glass over. "Oh, shit, I'm sorry. It must have been in the car, when they—when he—" A sob wracks through her body and I find myself leaning forward as best I can to wrap her in my arms.

I realize in that moment, maybe Veronica needs me just as much as I need her. "I'll find it." I promise. She is shaking in my arms, and I discover that comforting her is making me feel stronger. As if I, too, can get through this. "You know, I am here too if you need me."

Veronica pulls away from me, water streaks down her cheeks, but she offers up a kind smile. "I may just take you up on that."